Our Philosophy
SignCascade UD is guided by the philosophy "A way to learn, for everyone." Koe Palette is an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) app that supports communication for people who have difficulty speaking, and accessibility is built into the foundation of its design.
Scope
This policy applies to the Koe Palette app and its related web pages.
Standards We Follow
| Standard | Level | Notes |
|---|
| WCAG 2.1 | Level AA conformance (AAA as our goal) | Web content in general |
| JIS X 8341-3:2016 | Conformance Level AA | Japanese Industrial Standards |
| Android Accessibility Guidelines | — | Android app |
| Apple Accessibility Guidelines | — | iOS app |
What We Do
Vision
- Color schemes designed to meet the WCAG AAA criterion (contrast ratio of 7:1 or higher)
- Color Universal Design (CUD) support: five color vision modes (normal, protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia, and monochromacy)
- Shape indicators (●◆▲★) so information is never conveyed by color alone
- Low-glare design: we avoid pure white backgrounds in favor of an easy-on-the-eyes washi-cream (Japanese paper cream) tone
- Four font size settings (small, standard, large, extra large)
- Hiragana mode: a kanji-free interface for Japanese display
Hearing
- Speech support through text-to-speech (TTS)
- Voices available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Indonesian
- Recording feature that lets you record a familiar person's voice and assign it to a button
- Used together with visual feedback (a speaking overlay)
- A card's display language and speaking language can be set separately. When the two differ, both are shown at the top of the screen
Motor Function
- Large touch targets (grid size adjustable from 2×2 to 4×4)
- Auto-scan (buttons are highlighted automatically; tap when the one you want is reached)
- Guard time (an input interval control that prevents accidental taps)
- Press-and-hold repeat (holding the page control repeats page turns automatically)
- Switch input from external devices such as MIDI pads
Cognition and Learning
- Simple, consistent navigation design
- Clear buttons that combine an icon with text
- A favorites feature for quick access to frequently used buttons
- The emergency button and toilet button stay at the top of the screen at all times, so they can be pressed without searching
- Education mode, which blocks inappropriate content
- PIN lock for support persons, for safe management of settings
Languages and Cultures
- Support for four languages — Japanese, English, Chinese (Simplified), and Indonesian — across button labels, the interface, and speech
- A language selection screen on first launch that shows each language written in that language
- Hiragana mode, for people who cannot read kanji
Testing and Improvement
To maintain and improve the quality of our accessibility, we carry out the following on an ongoing basis.
- Accessibility checks before every release
- Verification with screen readers (TalkBack / VoiceOver)
- Collecting feedback from users and support persons and reflecting it in improvements
- Ongoing research into technical developments in accessibility
Feedback
If you have any comments, requests, or difficulties regarding accessibility, please contact us below.
This is a translation provided for convenience. In case of any discrepancy, the Japanese version prevails.